Common. Statues are used as meditation objects, and revered as they reflect the qualities of the Buddha.

Common

Belief of God

The idea of an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent creator is rejected by Buddhists. The Buddha himself refuted the theistic argument that the universe was created by a self-conscious, personal God.

Tao literally means the Way, which indicates the movement of a dynamic existence that is composed of opposing forces. Taoists do not believe in a personal God.

Founder

The Buddha (born as Prince Siddhartha)

Lao Tzu

Life after death

Rebirth is one of the central beliefs of Buddhism. We are in an endless cycle of birth, death and re-birth, which can only be broken by attaining nirvana. Attaining nirvana is the only way to escape suffering permanently.

If immortality isn't attained during life, the Tao will continue to evolve and manifest in different forms, in accordance with the entity's general conduct during a state of existence. This applies to all sentient and insentient beings.

Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha), and later masters, such as Nagarjuna, Bodhidharma, and Dogen.

Lao Tzu, and some other Taoist masters, such as Zhuangzi.

Offshoot Sects

None. Although Buddhism is divided into many sects in itself. Mahayana and Vajrayana are the two big yanas, while Theravada is closer to earlier Buddhism.

Confucianism was based on early teachings of Taoism, and many folk religions derive from Taoism. Zhengyi and Quanzhen are the two big historical sects within Taoism.

General Belief

Belief in the Buddha's doctrine until one experientally sees the Dependent Origination, which opens the door to nirvana.

Belief in one's own potential to reach the immortal state and become one with the Way, a.k.a the Tao.

Teachings about General Conduct

Abstain from evil, strive for nirvana, constantly cleanse the mind.

Live in accordance with the Tao, find balance in life.

Status of Vedas

The Buddha rejected the 5 Vedas, according to the dialogues seen in the nikayas.

Foreign texts from the perspective of the Taoists.

Religious Law

The Dharma.

The Tao.

Clothing

Bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns) are supposed to wear the Buddhist robe. There is no such rule for lay followers.

No clothing rules.

Animal Rights

The Buddha taught that animals have equal rights as humans. They are still bound in samsara, and suffer as humans do. Although he urged vegetarianism, he didn't restrict monks from eating meat when it was offered.

Animals are manifestations of the Tao, as living entities, they are not different than humans, so they should be treated accordingly.

Moral Obligations

The Buddha taught that karma is the reason that we exist. According to the teaching, all our actions of body, speech and mind, will yield results, either in this state of existence, or in a later one.

Lao Tzu taught that understanding the reality of the Tao will naturally result in balance, self-control, and virtuous conduct.

Sexual Conduct

The Buddha taught that a lay follower should subdue sexual misconduct, which includes consciously cheating on one's spouse, sexual intercourse with another's wife or husband, a minor, or an animal. Monks and nuns are celibate.

Sexuality is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to the yin and yang aspects of existence. A balanced, virtuous sex life will lead to enlightenment. The whole topic of sexuality is finely dissected and categorized in the texts.

Compatibility with Science

Aside from the concepts of karma and rebirth, Buddhism is said to be compatible with many scientific findings. Most Buddhist practices can also be labeled as cognitive science.

Taoism is said to be compatible with science, although it has its own ontological understanding of existence.

Homosexuality

The Buddha accepted both homosexuals and asexuals into the Sangha. In the Buddhist understanding, it is a natural phenomenon, and not different than heterosexualiy.

Homosexuality is a natural manifestation of the Tao.

Ontology

Existence is called samsara; literally, "rounds of becoming". To not become is only possible through attaining nirvana; literally, "blown out".

Existence is called the Tao; literally, "the Way". We are subjects, and the Way is the object. If we become the object, we are freed.

Contents: Buddhism vs Taoism

History

Buddhism finds its roots in Nepal at a time when religious and social turmoil was prevalent. A sect of people who shunned the traditions of the Brahminical religion followed the path led by Gautama Buddha. Indian Buddhism is categorized into five periods. Mauryan emperor Ashoka was a big supporter of this religion and put his efforts in spreading the Buddhist philosophies and ideologies. It spread to Central Asia and to Sri Lanka and eventually to China.

Some forms of Taoism find its roots in Chinese prehistoric folk religions. Laozi is regarded as the founder of this philosophy and Taoism gained official status in China. Many Chinese emperors have been instrumental in spreading and propagating the teachings of this religion.

Underlying Concept

The Vinegar Tasters, a traditional Asian allegorical painting where Buddha, Confucius and Laozi are gathered around a vat of vinegar.

Buddhism as a religion believes in Karma and has unique spiritual, physical and metaphysical beliefs which are well grounded in logic, belief and meditation.

Taoism is a philosophy of harmony with nature by way of use of principles like acceptance, simplicity, compassion, relying on experience, wu wei, living in the moment beside others.

The classic Chinese painting Vinegar Tasters shows three men around a vat of vinegar—Confucius, Buddha, and Laozi, author of the oldest existing book of Taoism. Confucius has a sour look on his face, the Buddha wears a bitter expression, and Laozi is smiling.

In his book The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff writes about the painting and the men in it:

Each has dipped his finger into the vinegar and has tasted it. The expression on each man's face shows his individual reaction. Since the painting is allegorical, we are to understand that these are no ordinary vinegar tasters, but are instead representatives of the "Three Teachings" of China, and that the vinegar they are sampling represents the Essence of Life.

To Buddha, life on earth was bitter, filled with attachments and desires that led to suffering. The world was seen as a setter of traps, a generator of illusions, a revolving wheel of pain for all creatures. In order to find peace, the Buddhist considered it necessary to tran- scend "the world of dust" and reach Nirvana.

To Lao-tse, the world was not a setter of traps but a teacher of valuable lessons. Its lessons needed to be learned, just as its laws needed to be followed; then all would go well. Rather than turn away from "the world of dust," Lao-tse advised others to "join the dust of the world." What he saw operating behind everything in heaven and earth he called Tao (DAO), "the Way." A basic principle of Lao-tse's teaching was that this Way of the Universe could not be adequately described in words, and that it would be insulting both to its unlimited power and to the intelligent human mind to attempt to do so. Still, its nature could be understood, and those who cared the most about it, and the life from which it was inseparable, understood it best.

Important Beliefs

Buddha statue in Phnom Penh

The tradition and practice of Buddhism emphasizes the Three Jewels that include the Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha. Buddhist ideologies vests on the Four Noble Truths (Life ultimately leads to suffering, suffering is caused by craving, suffering ends when craving ends and the liberated state can be reached by following the path etched by Buddha) and the Noble Eightfold path which when adhered to is believed to put an end to the suffering.

Ethics of Taoism lays stress on the Three Jewels of the Tao that include moderation, humility and compassion. Reverence for immortals and ancestor spirits is important in Taoism. Chinese alchemy, Feng shui, many Chinese martial arts, Zen Buddhism, Chinese traditional medicine and breath training find their roots in Taoism.

Branches

There are two major branches of Buddhism:

Theravada is the School of the Elders

Mahayana is the Great Vehicle.

The former is the oldest surviving branch and is widely popular in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. Mahayana is popular in East Asia. Vajrayana is a sub category of Mahayana which is also accepted as the third branch. Buddhism is recognized as the world’s fourth largest religion.

Livia Kohn categorized Taoism into three branches:

Philosophical Taoism that is based on texts Zhuangzi and Dao De Jing

Religious Taoism that originated from the Celestial Masters movement

Folk Taoism that is the Chinese folk religion.

Ethics

Buddhism defines ethics as Sila which is the overall principle of ethical behavior. There exist five precepts in this religion that are pre-determined training rules to lead a happy and better life. These precepts include:

refraining from violence / adherence to non-violence or ahimsa

refraining from taking what is not given to one (committing theft)

refraining from sexual misconduct

refraining from the act of lying

refraining from intoxicants that makes one lose his mind.

The basic ethics or virtues of Taoism are the Three Jewels or the Three Treasures:

Compassion

Moderation

Humility that can also be referred to as kindness, simplicity or modesty.

Texts or Scripture

Buddhist scriptures are written in Pali, Tibetan, Mongolian and Chinese languages. A few others include Sanskrit and Buddhist hybrid Sanskrit. There is no single central text that is referred to by all traditions.

Tao Te Ching or Daodejing is the most influential Taoist text. The other Taoist texts include Zhuangzi, Daozang and a few other significant texts.

Further Reading

For further reading, there are several books available on Amazon.com on Buddhism and Taoism:

Comments: Buddhism vs Taoism

Anonymous comments (5)

The Taoist section is very poorly written. Overly simplistic and defined incorrectly in many categories. I assume this was written as an introduction for first and second graders.

— 76.✗.✗.46

4

December 18, 2012, 1:15am

Lots of Buddhists don't believe in any gods or deities at all, making it entirely compatible with atheism. It's only certain schools of Buddhism (particularly prevalent in Tibet) who believe in deities. I'm an atheist Zen Buddhist, for example.

— 92.✗.✗.206

3

July 2, 2012, 10:07pm

I believe this comparison to be incorrect in many ways and could use some serious revision. There are many kinds of Taoism, with and with out deities. Enlightenment and balance in life are seen by some as the same thing, and that is just commenting on the very begging of the comparison because I am must go now. good luck

— 50.✗.✗.27

2

March 16, 2014, 7:44pm

Everything that is written is generally correct, but written in a way that sometimes has a negative, simplistic, western view.
In this article, The Buddhist clergy: "Monks and Nuns, who unitedly and exactly follow the teachings of the Buddha under the name 'Sangha'." Is a bit harsh. It is united but not exact. Sangha is the body of people who follow Buddha and not reserved for monks and nuns. Also it varies between Buddhist denominations and cultures and countries. Buddhism is a philosophical way of living your life, not a religion that dictates your life like Christianity. So to view this religion properly, you cannot properly define it using western categories and ideals.

— 76.✗.✗.46

1

February 6, 2014, 4:37pm

Almost everything which are said about Buddhism is correct to my knowledge. I know really little about Buddhism but I know from experience, it is the only way that I can release my stress in a hard time. So I really love my Buddhism and I will always be a Buddhist. I can call myself a proud Buddhist.